Published: Dec 17, 2025, 12:47 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 17, 2025, 12:47 PM (IST)
The IPL 2026 mini-auction was held on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, with all ten franchises making notable moves ahead of the new season. Australia all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive buy, going to Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 25.20 crore. Meanwhile, Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma made history as the joint-most-expensive uncapped Indian players, each signed by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 14.20 crore. Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of the auction:
The defending champions didn’t need major changes, but they secured Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 7 crore, a player they missed out on in 2025 when KKR won him for Rs 23.75 crore. They also added Jacob Duffy and left-arm pacer Mangesh Yadav to strengthen their bowling. However, RCB still lacks a strong backup spinner, leaving Suyash Sharma as the primary option in that department.
KKR was the busiest franchise during the auction. With the largest purse available, they splashed out Rs 25.20 crore on Australia all-rounder Cameron Green, making him the costliest buy of the event. The pace duo of Matheesha Pathirana (Rs 18 crore) and Mustafizur Rahman (Rs 9.2 crore) also came at a premium. For Indian talent, Tejasvi Dahiya was added for Rs 3 crore. After a disappointing IPL 2025, KKR clearly aimed to rebuild their squad, though the team is yet to finalize its captaincy decision.
CSK went big on youth, spending most of their auction purse on uncapped players Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma at Rs 14.20 crore each. This gamble shows their trust in emerging talent over experienced campaigners. They also reinforced their bowling attack by acquiring Akeal Hosein, Rahul Chahar, and Matt Henry, while Prashant Veer also serves as a partial replacement for Ravindra Jadeja. How their young stars perform will be key in IPL 2026.
Mumbai Indians operated with the lowest purse but made strategic picks. Quinton de Kock was brought in as cover for Ryan Rickelton, alongside Atharva Ankolekar and Mohammed Izhar. While MI didn’t make headlines with big-money buys, their selections are calculated and could provide balance to an already competitive squad.
SRH’s standout acquisition was Liam Livingstone for Rs 13 crore, turning their batting line-up into a formidable unit. While they have firepower in batting, the team still lacks an experienced spinner after missing out on Ravi Bishnoi, and replacing Mohammed Shami remains a question mark.
Punjab Kings were relatively quiet for most of the auction, making moves in the final two hours. They signed all-rounder Cooper Connolly for the middle order and added pacer Ben Dwarshuis. Their overseas picks look strong, but options like Vishal Nishad as a cover for Yuzvendra Chahal might prove tricky in crucial moments.
LSG had mixed results in the auction. They released David Miller but spent heavily on Josh Inglis (Rs 8.6 crore) despite his unavailability for part of the season. Wanindu Hasaranga and Andrich Nortje were added, but the lack of a proven middle-order batter could be a concern.
DC started strong by acquiring David Miller at the base price of Rs 2 crore, freeing up Rs 8.4 crore to spend on Jammu & Kashmir all-rounder Auqib Dar. Additions like Pathum Nissanka and Ben Duckett give KL Rahul a potent opening partner. With a solid top order, DC could have a very successful IPL 2026.
RR released Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana before the auction and brought in Ravi Bishnoi for Rs 7.2 crore. Yash Raj Punja and Vignesh Puthur strengthen their spin department, while Adam Milne supports Jofra Archer. However, the lack of a lower middle-order power hitter could remain a challenge.
GT strengthened their middle order by signing Jason Holder for Rs 7 crore, adding competition for Glenn Phillips. They also waited until late in the auction to bring in Luke Wood and Tom Banton for overseas options, while Ashok Sharma and Prithvi Raj Yarra bolstered their pace attack.
